Mourinho delighted with character and spirit shown

Roma are now 12 games unbeaten in Serie A, after they drew 1-1 with Napoli on Sunday evening.

Stephan El Shaarawy equalised in injury-time of a combative and at times controversial match to secure a deserved point for the Giallorossi, after Lorenzo Insigne's penalty had given the hosts an early lead.

Here is what Jose Mourinho had to say after the contest...

What are your feelings after that one? We saw your celebrations for the late equaliser…

“I celebrated because during the game it felt to me like it was going to be impossible to leave here with a positive result. Not because my side were not playing well, because we played really well and actually got better as the game went on. But I always had the feeling it was going to be very, very difficult – and, I would say, impossible – to finish with a positive result.

“So that’s why I celebrated the equaliser. But now, with the emotion out of it, after what I felt during the game and what I saw in the changing room afterwards … that’s why I celebrated. Because it seemed impossible before.

“But I think that my team were great. After Thursday’s game, the game today felt like Everest. But my team were great; quality, character, mental and physical strength on display. We wanted even more from the game, but we have come away with what we could.”

The change in momentum seemed to coincide with the introduction of Henrikh Mkhitaryan at half-time…

“That’s why he has been playing every minute of every game. Looking at all the absences we have had, he has been a player who has never been suspended, never been injured and so has played every game.

“We thought that perhaps in the second half he could do something different for us, but have him play another 90 minutes, running 12.5 kilometres as he does every time, would have been tough for him and us. Look at Leicester yesterday: they made nine changes for their Premier League game compared to the one against PSV. We have already played 12 games in the Conference League, and soon that will be 14 – it’s tough.

“But still, a great performance and a great moment at the end of the game. It seemed like it was going to be impossible but we were able to do it. I am really proud of these players.

"But if you will give me two seconds – without saying too much, because I don’t want to say too much – there are teams that are still fighting for the title. We are not. But, nevertheless, we have the right to play to win the games we have. But today it didn’t seem like that to me. Today it seemed to me like we did not have the right to play to win this game.

“I read something from guys in the newspapers along the lines of, ‘The title could be decided by a referee who makes a mistake involving one of the three teams in the race.’ But the title race can also be decided if the referees make mistakes that favour the sides playing for the title. And today it felt like it was going to be impossible for us to win. I don’t want to talk too much .. but the referee, there were a few moments during the game where I was ashamed of what was happening on the pitch.”

Are there any specific moments you have in mind?

“How many do you want me to give you? Two? Three? More than that? Okay, I will give you three. The red card for Zanoli. In the first half there was a yellow, it would have been a yellow anywhere else in the world, and then in the second half he should have had another. Then, there was a penalty for Zaniolo that was not given. Because, yes, the goalkeeper makes the save – but then after that the ball is loose and Zaniolo was there to potentially put in the rebound, but he gets contact from the goalkeeper. Nothing.

“There were more. Many more. To me, it’s enough. A bit of respect. Today we played without any of our fans – they are back home – and we worked hard. I want us to have the right to play. Unfortunately we were not good enough during the early formation phase of this team and we cannot be fighting for the title now. But we want to be able to fight to win games like this. I want to have the right, on Saturday, to win that game.”